This Guardian 'Full Story' podcast episode examines whether Australia has a gun problem in the wake of the Bondi beach terror attack. New South Wales will become the first state to undertake Australia's biggest gun buyback in 30 years under a jointly funded scheme. The move has been welcomed by many but faces opposition from the Coalition and One Nation, who argue it unfairly targets law-abiding gun owners. Host Rafqa Touma speaks with reporter Penry Buckley about whether the buyback will work and why it has angered so many.
🔍 The Backstory
Australia introduced sweeping gun reform after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, including a national buyback that removed hundreds of thousands of weapons. The December Bondi beach terror attack, an antisemitic attack in which 15 people were killed, reignited the firearm debate. NSW has now proposed its largest gun buyback in three decades in direct response to that attack.
🎯 Why It Matters
The episode probes the durability of Australia's post-Port Arthur gun consensus and how far governments will go following a terror attack. It captures the political divide between those prioritising public safety and those defending the rights of licensed firearm owners.
This Guardian 'Full Story' podcast episode examines whether Australia has a gun problem in the wake of the Bondi beach terror attack. New South Wales will become the first state to undertake Australia's biggest gun buyback in 30 years under a jointly funded scheme. The move has been welcomed by many but faces opposition from the Coalition and One Nation, who argue it unfairly targets law-abiding gun owners. Host Rafqa Touma speaks with reporter Penry Buckley about whether the buyback will work and why it has angered so many.
Australia introduced sweeping gun reform after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, including a national buyback that removed hundreds of thousands of weapons. The December Bondi beach terror attack, an antisemitic attack in which 15 people were killed, reignited the firearm debate. NSW has now proposed its largest gun buyback in three decades in direct response to that attack.
The episode probes the durability of Australia's post-Port Arthur gun consensus and how far governments will go following a terror attack. It captures the political divide between those prioritising public safety and those defending the rights of licensed firearm owners.